Apparatus for casting metal



No. 623,053. Patented Apr. ll,' I899. A. L. WALKER.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL.

(Applicatiun filed Sept. 2, 1898.)

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(No Model.)

No. 623,053. Paten ted Apr. I899. A. L. WALKER. A

APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL. (Application filed Sept. 2, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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Patented Apr. u, I899.

A. L. WALKER. APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL.

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A. WALKER. APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL.

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No. e23,053.- Patented Apr. Q1899.

A. L. WALKER.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL.

(Appliation filed Sept. 2, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets$heet 5.

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llNiTED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

ARTHUR L. WALKER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 623,053, dated April11, 1899.

7 Application filed September 2,1898 Serial No. 690,109. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. WALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Oastin g Metals; and I dohere-;

by declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and to the letters of reference markedthereon.

This-invention relates to improvements in apparatus for facilitating thecasting of met: als-suoh, for instance, as is set forth in my priorpatent, No. 597,367, wherein the molds are supported by a movable orrotary carrier and are successively brought into position to receive themolten metal from the furnace or ladle and are thence carried to thebosh or pit, where the castings are discharged from the molds and themolds again returned to the metal-receivin g point and the invention0011-,

sists in an improved arrangement of the mechanism and in certain detailsof construction of the several parts, whereby the mechanical operationsare facilitated, the labor of the attendant decreased, and the speed andefficiency of the apparatus greatly increased.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection and partly broken away to illustrate more completely internaland hidden parts of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of theapparatus. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 1 toillustrate the carrier and its rotating mechanism. Fig. 4. is a detaileleva tion of the deflector-supporting mechanism on an enlarged scale,and Fig. 5 is a similar View looking at the left-hand end of themechanism illustrated in Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are views correspondingto Figs. 4 and 5, illus tratinga modified deflector-su pportin gmechanism. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the central portion of thestructure Fig. l on an en larged scale.

Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, particularly Fig. 3, it will be seenthat upon a suitable foundation A there is arranged a central upright orpost A, surrounded by a concentric track or-way A the diameter of whichshould be made sufficient to afford the necessary support to the carrierand which is preferably of a diameter equal to that of the carrierproper. This carrier, as shown, is preferably made in the form of awheel having its central hub B journaled on the upright A and joined bya series of arms B with a relatively wide peripheral flange B The flangeB extends some distance above the level of the arms B in the form. ofapparatus shown,

and its lower edge is widened out to afford a bearing B which, throughthe medium of antifriction rollers O, cooperates with the track or way ATherollers C may be suitably supported and spaced by spacing-rings 0,arranged toconnect their journals, as will be readily understood.

The peripheral flange B of the carrier is adapted to support a series ofadjustable bracket-arms D, in the outer edge of which the molds for themetalare journaled in suitable bearings formed in the arms and uponjournals either formed directly upon the molds themselves or connectedwith the molds in any suitable manner. adjustable permit of the use ofmolds of various sizes and shapes, in this particular the apparatusbeing similar to that described in my before-mentioned patent.

The molds mounted on the carrier are The bracket-s being I adapted toreceive the molten metal from any suitable sourceas, for instance, fromthe furnace Fthrough mechanism to be presently described, and to beconveyed thence to the dumping-point, as will also be presentlydescribed, and in order to give the carrier the movement necessary forcarrying out this operation I preferably mount on the central upright orpivot of the carrier a fixed platform G, Fig. 3, upon which an attendantmay stand, and upon this platforml also nection H is interposed betweenthe pulley around arelatively small drum 1 on said pulley, extends overan idler-pulley I and has connected to it a weight 1 which tendsconwithin reach of the attendant.

stantly to draw the flexible connection in a direction to move thepulley II reversely. As the piston is moved to advance or rotate theshaft H forwardly the weight 1 will be raised, and when the power orpressure in the cylinder is released the Weight will move the partsreversely. Upon the lower end of the shaft H there is mounted a wheel Hwhich meshes with a relatively large gear-wheel H, mounted on the arms Bof the carrier. The pressure to the operating-cylinder g is controlledby a hand-lever g, Fig. 1, arranged in position to be convenientlyreached by the attendant standing on the platform and from which pointit will be noted that he is in position to survey all of the molds heldby the carrier and may therefore control the move ment of the carrierwith the utmost facility.

Between the molds and the melting-furnace or other source from which themolten metal is supplied to the molds there is arranged a ladle K, theforward end of which is supported upon rocking arms or trunnions K, soas to advance or move backwardly the pouring end of the ladle withoutmaterially changing its level, the said pivotal point between the ladleand trunnions being also at approximately the level and very near thefront end of the pouring-spout or discharge-opening of the la dle as afurther protection against any change of level during the pouringoperation, and

consequently insures a uniform dropping of the metal into the mold. Therear end of the ladle is suspended from a connection L, the

upper end of which passes over a pulley Z,

firmly attached to the framing, and extends thence to a hydraulic orpower cylinder L, the pressure to which is controlled through ahand-lever L located at any convenient point The rocking trunnions ofthe ladle are also preferably controlled by a hand-lever K alsopreferably located within reach of the same attendant who controls thehand-lever L Thus the attendant watching the pouring operation maysingle-handed watch and control accurately the entire pouring operation;but in order to insure a more complete operation or result there isinterposed between'the ladle and the molds during the pouring operationa deflector, the particular formation of which is varied to suit thematerial and form of casting being made, as described in my priorpatent. In the present instance, however, this deflector is supportedfrom the central platform of the carrier and is directly under thecontrol of 2 eaolts the attendant located on the platform through themedium of a handle, which extends up over the peripheral rim of thecarrier.

Various mechanisms may be arranged upon the central stationary platformfor supporting the deflector, and in Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown thepreferred form of such mechanism, consisting of a substantiallyhorizontal shaft M, supported in bearings M on the platform and adaptedat one end to be adjustably connected with the deflector-arm M as by asleeve and set-screw connection M and at the other end to support anoperating or controlling handle M with a suitable counterweight M,adjustable on said handle. The shaft M is adapted to be moved in thebearings M longitudinally or to be rotated to swing the deflector to oneside or the other, as occasion requires, the counterweight M balancingthe weight of the deflector and materially reducing the labor of theattendant in manipulating the same. For limiting the longitudinalmovement of the shaft adjustable collars M may be mounted thereonbetween the bearings M. Thus the extreme range of movement of thedeflector may be limited or adjusted to conform to the formation orposition of the molds being used at any particular time, and thevariation in the weight of the deflector used may be compensated for bythe adjustment of the counterweight M on the controlling-handle M.

Should it be desired, a simple crane or overhangingarm N, Figs. 6 and 7,may be mounted on the central platform and the deflector supportedtherefrom by a hanging connection L and the long handle N of thedeflector, extending back over the rim of the carrier, be utilized forcontrolling the position of the de flector, this form of apparatusmaking an exceedingly simple arrangement-an improvement advantageousfrom an economical point of viewalthough the firstdescribed arrangementis. preferred.

Small castings or castings of small articles.

may be dumped out of their molds when they have been carried through anarc of ninety degrees into a water-bosh or dry pit 0, while largercastings may be carried through an arc of one hundred and eighty degreesor, if desired, farther and dropped into a bosh or pit containing water,if so desired, and conveyed away automatically. The dumping operationmay be performed automatically, and I have shown in the drawings onearrangement for accomplishing this end. Upon those molds which it isdesired to dump automatically a dumping handle or projection P isprovided in such position that as the molds are advanced by the carrierthe handle P will be brought into contact with an incline P, supportedby a frame P and by said incline raised until the mold is inverted, whenthe handle will slide down a second incline P until it comes in contactwith and rests upon the top P of the box, and in this position thecasting will drop out, the position of the mold being the top of thebosh.

as shownin Fig. 1, with its upper end preferably below the level of thetop of the bosh, so as to lie in the water contained in said bosh, andkept approximately at the level of The eifect of the water is to coolthe mold to fit it for the subsequent reception of molten metal, and inorder to heighten this effect a spray P is preferably arranged to playon the bottom of the inverted mold, as also indicated in Fig. 1.

Before the mold leaves the bosh or reaches a position where its endmight strike the side wall of the bosh the inverting-arm P comes incontact with another incline'P up which it rides as the carriercontinues its movement and by which the mold is turned back to itsoriginal position ready for the reception of the molten metal when themold reaches the receiving position again. Sufficient heat will usuallybe retained by the mold to insure its being completely dried afterleaving the bosh and before it reaches the receiving position in frontof the pouring-ladle.

hen castings are dumped into the waterbosh, they slide down an inclinedfloor Q andthem up into position to be handled by'theattendants or intoposition .to be conveyed away to any suitable source for furthertreatment or sale, as desired.

With an apparatus such as herein described it will be observed thatpractically the entire handling of the metal from the time it flows fromthe furnaceor is deposited in the pouring-ladle until the completedcastings are deliver-ed is performed by mechanical power, but under thedirect control of the attendant, whose labor, however, is very light,and as a result not only is the operation of casting facilitated and thespeed with which castings may be made greatly enhanced, but thecastings, receiving a uniform treatment, will be more homogeneous anduniform throughout the whole batch than it. is possible Where the metalis conveyed about and deposited in a series of molds which aresubsequently dumped by hand.

It will be noted that the molds are pivoted on axes which are eccentricto the center of gravity of the molds. Thus the molds will normallyretain their initial position with the stop projections on their innersides engaging the supporting-brackets, as in my former patentedconstruction; but in the present instance a greater proportion of themolds which are intended to be subjected to the action of the water inthe water-bosh lies above their axes. The result of this arrangement isthat when inverted the lower portion of the inverted mold (formerly thetop of the mold) occupies a plane which is lower than the norin al planeof the bottom of the mold, and hence when inverted the top of the moldmay be extended down into the water within the water-bosh, as beforeexplained, the walls of the bosh for this purpose being higher than theplane of the lower portion of the inverted I movement of the carrierlocated on said platform; substantially as described.

2. In a casting apparatus, the combination of the horizontally-rotatingmold-carrier, a central fixed shaft or support about which said carrierrotates and a fixed platform supported by said shaft and forming asuitable base for the operator; substantially as described.

3. In a casting apparatus the combination of the mold-carrier and meansfor rotatingit in a horizontal plane, a central fixed shaft or supportabout which said carrier rotates and a fixed platform supported by saidshaft with carrier-controlling mechanism mounted on said platform;substantially as described.

4:. In a casting apparatus, the combinationwith thehorizontally-rotatable carrier having the mold-brackets mounted thereon,of a central shaft about which said carrier rotates, projecting upthrough the carrier, a horizontal platform mounted on the upper end ofsaid shaft and fixed with relation to the carrier, a driving mechanismmounted on said platform, gearing interposed between said drivingmechanism and carrier and a controlling-handle for said drivingmechanism; substantially as described.

5. In a casting apparatus, the combination with thehorizontally-rotatable carrier, having mold supporting bracketsprojecting therefrom and a central shaft about which said carrierrotates projecting up through the carrier, of a platform supported onsaid shaft above the carrier, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on theplatform, a piston working in said cylinder, a shaft rotated by themovement of the piston and gearing interposed between said shaft andcarrier as set forth.

6. In a casting apparatus, the combination with a horizontally-rotatablecarrier, of a IIO driving mechanism for rotating said carrier motor anddrum, whereby the latter is rotated in one direction by the motor, aweight connected with the drum for rotating it in the oppositedirection, a shaft gearing with the carrier and a pawl-and-ratchetconnection interposed between the drum and shaft; sub- 'stantially asdescribed.

8. In a casting-machine, the combination with a horizontally-rotatablecarrier and a series of pivoted dumping-molds mounted on and entirelysupported thereby with controlling-arms for said molds, of inclines withwhich said arms cooperate as the carrier rotates to invert said moldsand discharge the castings; substantially as described.

9. In a casting apparatus, the combination with a horizontally-rotatablecarrier, having a series of mold-supporting brackets projectin gtherefrom, dumping-molds pivoted on horizontal axes tangential to thecarrier in said supporting-brackets and entirely supported thereby andcontrolling-arms-for said molds, of an incline located in the path oftravel of said controlling-arms, whereby the molds are inverted todischarge the castings, and reverse inclines also located in the path oftravel of said controlling-arms for returning the molds to their initialposition; substantially as described.

10. In a casting apparatus, the combination with thehorizontally-rotatable carrier, the mold-supporting brackets carriedthereby, the molds journaled in said arms on horizontal axes andcontrolling-arms for said mold,,of an inclinelying in the path of travelof said controlling-arm for inverting the mold, a second incline withwhich said arms coopcrate, and down which they travel as the moldsbecome inverted and a reverse incline lying in the path of travel ofsaid arms when the molds are in their inverted position for returningthe molds to their initial position; substantially as described.

11. In a casting apparatus, the combination with ahorizontally-rotatable carrier and a series of molds supported thereby,of a central stationary platform arranged Within said carrier, apouring-ladle for supplying molten metal and a universally movabledeflector interposed between said ladle and molds, with a support forsaid deflector carried by the central fixed platform; substantially asdescribed.

12. In a casting apparatus, the combination with thehorizontally-rotatable carrier, a series of molds supported thereby, apouring-ladle for supplying molten metal to said mold and a fixedsupport or platform, of a substantially horizontal shaft mounted inbearings on said platform to rotate and move longitudinally, a deflectorcarried by said shaft and adapted to be interposed between the'ladle andmold, and a controlling-handle and counterweight also carried by saidshaft for manipulating the deflector; substantially as described.

13. In a casting apparatus, the combina- ARTHUR L. WALKER.

Witnesses:

HOWARD D. BENNETT, FELIX R. SULLIVAN.

